Selachi

Symptom severity as influenced by element

Ice dragons have it the easiest by far. At worst their skin is a little colder than usual... at best, their natural magic is actually enhanced. However, ice-pale eyes can be a morbid sign for dragons who weren't born in the Southern Icefields.

Shadow dragons experience the fewest symptoms, presumably due to the fact that Shadow magic is a natural buffer to Ice magic. It is sometimes difficult to tell if they have inherited the disease at all.

Arcane dragons are unpredictable. Some can handle the curse fairly well, but the side effects can be strange and severe- even hazardous to nearby dragons.

Wind, Earth, Light, and Lightning dragons are average in terms of severity. These dragons are usually able to lead normal lives in spite of their illness.

Plague, Nature, and Water dragons tend to respond poorly, and commonly lack the capacity to use their own elemental magic. Of course, Plague dragons are known for their strength and adaptability; Nature dragons as well. There have also been claims of Water dragons who developed an affinity for Ice magic at the expense of their native powers, but such rumors are unverified.

Fire dragons are the worst sufferers. Common sense might lead you to assume that they'd have it easiest, as their internal magic could simply burn out the infection; however, this is impossible due to the way the curse was designed. (More on that later!) In actuality, the dragons' bodies are fighting so hard on a constant basis that they suffer from a permanent state of magic exhaustion; in every known case (save one) this has resulted in the premature death of the dragon.

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It is important to note that symptoms can vary immensely between individuals, so these descriptions are not always accurate. Another thing to mention is that even if a dragon inherits the ice markings, they do not necessarily inherit the curse, and vice versa. Furthermore, the curse is less likely to be passed on the more distant your relation is to the original carriers, and it has been known to skip generations.

You mean, why have I not told her any if this? Oh, I wouldn't want her to worry. She has enough to deal with as it is. For the time being we will continue to nest, and I will continue to observe the results. My hope is that, by continuing my research, I will be able to bring us closer to a permanent solution!

A cure... I know, it's a long shot. I can barely bring myself to be optimistic... but I can't just stand here and watch her suffer! And the thought that I might lose her... I don't really have a choice, do I?

Ah... you're not going to tell anyone about this, are you?

Yes, thank you. I think... not everyone would be as understanding as you.